My first event that I went to was every Saturday at the Miners Welfare hall which I think was in Burnopfield where the reqular group were Trevor Chance and the Gamblers. I still have the Badfinger single I won off the DJ in my treasure box. Detroit sounds the hinge the outfit perfumed garden well me for one as I was in ALL of them our biggest claim to fame was backing the opportunity knocks star the muscle man at the middle club, byker. Such a shame it all came to an end way too soon. Hi Margaret, Great band, very professional. I would like to think so. what a great club. Change Is opened with a flourish on 9th February 1969 with a promise of first class entertainment from the best acts around. King Crimson did their 1st try out gig at Change Is. I remember the DJ Dave, I thought he was so hip. Lovely to see Ray Grehans name mentioned. Sadly it all changed and went bad, but interesting times! A long shot here but wondering if you ever heard of a band called the Lyle Brown showband or similarplayed in whitley bay in the mid 60s. Good times- great musicians. Re the Dolce Vita. The Del 5s drummer was Quentin (think thats how you spell it) Bernie Watsons brother cant think of the other sax player though. Thanks for the memories though, and keep up the good work. Garry Steckles, Hi Melina Manning your mum Irene was my first girlfriend, at 16. If anyone reading this knew my mother or any other members of the Jimmy Bence Orchestra, please leave a comment on this site. Pete Wallis. however I cannot remember who it belonged to. I stayed with Kim when she went solo but only again for a short time. Im very interested in your post regarding a photographer who may taken photos of the nightclubs many of us attended. I worked in the baileys club Bloomers in bath lane first manager was Dave abbot who went to a bailey club in Stockton second manager was Bob Duncan who after three years moved over to manage La Dolce Vita . I only wish more photographs had been taken to record all this! In relation to the Hendrix gig my dads uncle was the manager at the Haymarket Hotel and he reckons the band had a pint in the back room ,presumably before they went on or between sets, Great to see Germain up there looking as animated as ever ..pity there is not a music track download of everyone in action! oops sorry just found them under media -great stuff thanks. Kennedy's Bar South Shields 5 Bars & Clubs By steveL794 This is a great Little bar great atmosphere and is such a welcoming bar, well worth a visit great chilling bar 3. Happy Times. Also when I used go to the Dolce there used to be a DJ called Jimmy Walker. My dad owned Greys Club making it the club to be seen at! He gave me my proverbial 5 minutes of fame. It opened in 1959 and ran for around 6 years. I was the original keyboard player in the Junco partners when we were resident at the agogo. A personal perspective by Roger Smith. to commemorate these experiences I have recently cut a CD called Cats Nite Out on which I have included the R & R music we used then.I went on the sing throughout my life as a solo artiste, called Ray Donne for a period and then back to my real name. Chas Chandler lived in Heaton and his dad was the roadie. Oz disco nightclub The date of this photograph remains a mystery but it shows the Oz disco nightclub in Garden Lane. Happy Days. There were two lads called Tich and Grass who frequented the club and fancied themselves as hard men.They beat up Paul Williams, who was then with Mayall, when he bumped into one of them. I must have known your Dad as I went there a lot (do you have any photos of your dad from then, Im certain that I will recognise him and then after I met John there in 1974 we shared our club nights between Change Is or was iit Bloomers then and Scamps. The opening of the club was preceded by an intense advertising campaign in the local press involving some quite off-beat and quirky adverts: . me and me mates were rockers, wed move down to the rockliffe arms and the station hotel then the club a go go. Eric Burdon of the Animals lived in the Walker area and I remember standing next to him in the bus queue shortly before he rocketed to international fame. AJS 170. The casino in La Strada (photo courtesy of Rob Quinn), 1963 advertisement for La Strada (courtesy of Rob Quinn), 1965 Advertisement for La Strada (Courtesy of Rob Quinn), Resident group the Crusaders with La Strada owner, Sandford Goudie on the right with a conga drum (photo courtesy of Rob Quinn). I met John there in March of 1974 and we were there several times a week. Great article, as with Michael(the previous poster)I have a family connection to these times. The group met up last October for a reunion in Gosforth. Then late 1962 we changed to mods and started going to the Go-Go, and also the West End boys club. so thank you for that! Any information you have would be great. Jean (still dancing) x. Went to the Dolce for years and my mate at the time was DJ at Sloopys. He even stood in for the pianist who hadnt turned up on my Mum and Dads wedding day! any stories to share or anyone who knows my granddad or great uncles feel free to share! Enter Your Postcode Submit. I had an input early in the posts re La Strada and Ken Maddison and was lead vocalist at the Sunderland and South Shields nightclubs. He was a great man. Ho Hum happy days and strange memories. Kennedy's Bar South Shields 418 South Eldon Street, South Shields NE33 5SY England +44 191 456 4363 https://www.facebook.com/kennedyssouthshields/ Excellent 100% Good 0% Satisfactory 0% Poor 0% Terrible 0% Overall Ratings 5.0 based on 4 reviews 2. Its said the owner of a Newcastle night club they visited instructed staff he was out and he retired to the cellar in order to escape an offer he couldnt refuse. I know I had a great time working at many NE clubs during the late sixties and early seventies. Just stumbled across this great website. He also played at The Cavendish and LA Dolce Vita. Absolutely loved it. I remember being a young teenager and the Junco Partners practising in the bedroom at my family home Caroline Cottages, John is my brother and I do remember Pete Wallis being the keyboard player and amazing they are still playing after all these years. My dad Bob Stephenson (pianist) played at both La Dolce Vita and La Strada. I was a teenager in the 60s and along with my friends we went to a lot of the clubs mentioned, especially the GoGo, Downbeat Club, the Pickwick in Whitley Bay, and sometimes the La Dolce Vita. I was told that Davey FINLAY my dad was sent to prison for 10 years for something done down the country but as I dont really know him I cant say. 1. The club closed as Change Is and reopened as Bloomers. My social life started at the Cellar Club in South Shields, moved on to the GoGo whilst it was at its height, back to the Cellar (renamed the New Cellar and then the Chelsea Cat), with a few detours along the way via the Latino, Dolce Vita, Greys Club, Change Is and finally Julies. Eileen Burnett wrote the book South Shields Pubs, published by Amberley, in 2014. Im loving the new web site a fantastic design and fantastic photos. 60s Clubs - Ready Steady Gone! We also got introduced to Newcastle Brown too! My mother Barbara Berg who worked At the Gogo when she was younger is in the second picture, along with the blonde lady on the right who is my Aunty Joan Tenniswood (young) who also worked there! Also played at Muscle In as I was friendly with the owner Walter McCrae. You and I used to share guitar vocals with Ken Maddison in the early 70s at La Strada until I moved to Montego Bay. thankyou for bringing back fantastic memories every one. I beleive he appeared at a number of clubs in Newcastle and the north east. They gave me a flyer which had their past and present in it. Saw a lot of these bands at the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay.It was mobbed when Love Affair on.!!! I was then a young post-grad at Kings College 1966/67 and my girl-friend and I attended the Cavendish club regularly. I love this blog I am originally from Sunderland and have been trying to recall some of the clubs from this time this site has hit almost all of the ones I went to (mostly on Wearside) starting with the Seaburns cats night out on Wednesday nights, the Cellar (lying about our ages to get in) the Grange, the Bay Hotel and Wetheralls. Even better was the fact that he was actually staying at the same place as we were, the Pheasant Run Hotel. The event is free to enter, with collection buckets out for those who wish to donate and will run from an early time of. Saw Alan Bown Set, Downtown Faction and a group from Teeside(?Rivers Invitation)there. The best thing is Im still alive and have great memories. Was told to read your comments from one of the girls, Jen Sherwood, and it was nice to see that you are both still with us. . Without the contribution of these two men the club and music scene of the north east would have been considerably different. Happy days. The second picture down, which has David Macbeth on, also has two of my aunts who both worked at Go Go. Your dad is on Jesmond and not too well at present, Re comment 72 by David Parks After the party scene at John Osbornes house, the camera pans along a set of party goers as the police raid the party, and Oxley is one of those. We worked with the likes of the Shadows, Seekers, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donegan, Roy Castle, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, the Barron Knights, Freddie Starr(oh dear), Jimmy Tarbuck, Dave Allan, Engelbert Humperdinck, Val Doonjcan to name but a few. Like George I have been looking for pics for years. Read more about the Marimba on this link. I was best friends with Pongo (Keith to me) and for a short while roady for them. Would love to get hold of Jane Maddison, Kens daughter. I have a photo from The Viewer (the forefunner of the TV Times) showing a line-up of pianists and singers, Dad is on there but the only other pianist I recognise is (the much-admired, not least by my Dad) Billy Hutchinson. He was from Sunderland and used to come and meet me after school when I was in my school uniform. Just stumbled across it whilst looking at pics. 2 inch thick marine ply shells with heavy duty internal struts and mounting frames but man the sound was awesome, power, punch and clarity. 10 South Shields pubs, past and present - from the Criterion to the how about that for happenstance. I used to go to the Marimba on a Saturday morning, I remember going down to the cellar which was typical of all the cellars in Grey Street as I believe it was known as smugglers run in the past, as they went down to the river. Was at a place called St.Charles, outside Chicago, a couple of years ago and who should be playing there but Bill Smedley (Righteous Brothers). Most of the lads my age in 1972 aspired to have their hair like the lovely Marc Bolan. Burlesque was my band until car accident and moved to London and became a session singer. I met my first girlfriend Sandra Findley then with all her friends who use to go there, Linda & Sylvia Stoddart, Pat Larby, Cath, Eleanor and Jen. The line up was Ken Brady, Jimmy Crawford, Alan Blacks, Barry Preston, Spud Tate ( sadly passed away ). Amongst those talked about were two men who were heavily involved in the north east club scene in the sixties Mike Jeffery and Ray Grehan. I continued it in Newcastle Social Club residences and recently, after early retirement, had six years as a semi-pro touring the UK with a Hollies and Crosby Stills and Nash tribute. Can anyone remember my dad, who was the manager of Change is nightclub in late 60s early 70s James/Jimmy Cowie a Scottish chappie from Aberdeen. they were with some very large chaps and i believe an escort of C.I.D. The lavishly decorated premises had once been the Piccadilly Club, which was run by Dennis Stafford who was later jailed for the 1967 murder of Angus Sibbett in the notorious One-Armed Bandit case. Tommy Oxley worked as a part-time Court Usher then. Some of the guests hadnt seen each other for decades so there was a lot of catching up to do. THE 10 BEST Nightlife Activities in South Shields - Tripadvisor Dave and his brother Tommy were the doormen the manager was Ken Brady who used to be in the resident group at the Mayfair in Newcastle. I went to a place in 1972 which I knew only as the dive bar and could never understand why. Does anyone remember the old New Orleans Jazz Club in Melbourne Street.the manager was Polish, Jurek.also his son, young Jurek, also his sister used to make an appearance every now and then. The reunion was a great success so full marks to Ian Wright for coming up with the idea and organising the event. We were also friends with Clive Lee who was a total fruitcake in the style of Freddie Starr! loved those ..times i/ve never lost my love of Jazz, and am still singing those beautifull songs in and around the Northeast. Shields there was no late licence and it shut around 10-30. A friend in music (Colin Bradley who played in a Teesside band called The Road Runners with Paul Rodgers and Micky Moody in the 60s) was kind enough to send me a link. Hi I know Tommy and Davey findlay, Jesmond. Can you believe I used to have to buy a friend a drink just to get her to dance to something I loved probably JamesBrown or Family or something great! Thank you for telling me where I can locate some photos taken inside Bloomers Nightclub in the early 1970s. Sad to hear about Dave passing. Most clubs regularly visited (after tanking up at The Half Moon) I particularly remember the folk/jazz nights we had at Change Is in early 70s. Best wishes, Trevor. Rehearsals were sometimes in the Engineers Club in Ellison place. It features nightclubs in South Shields who offer clubbing, live bands and nightlife. Roger, thanks for a great website, it continues to bring back memories some good, some bad and some unprintable. Nick Brandon, the singer (his stage name) worked at Wards the printers in High Bridge. Great site!! June 30, 2022; my septum piercing won't flip up; vegan mochi cake recipe As a PS Leam Lane WMC still have a thriving group night on Fridays, they also have a first class resident duo in Dougie and Carl, not many if any clubs still have live backing for the turns. I remember seeing Sandford Goudie and his glamorous wife there regularly.We watched a young comedian called Jimmy Tarbuck performing, just before he came to fame at the London Palladium. old nightclubs in south shields. 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We were more 18 year olds from Sunderland who found our way to the Club A Gogo hoping to meet someone to give us a lift home! Kennedy's Bar South Shields 5 Bars & Clubs By steveL794 This is a great Little bar great atmosphere and is such a welcoming bar, well worth a visit great chilling bar 3. We regularly played the Seaburn Hall on Cats Nite Out which was on a Wednesday. One of them snapped my new tie in half trying to garrot me. Had a great time in the 60s. Mike Jeffery, owner of the Club AGogo and manager of the Animals and Jimi Hendrix was killed in a plane crash in 1973. Her stage name was Julie Johnson. Fantastic read! 54-56 Ocean Road, South shields, NE33 2JD 0191 4967500. Hi Alfie Wright AKA Tony Sands Hypnotist opened the Cresendo Club Whitley bay I named it after The Cresendo Club in U.S.A Sadly Geordie is now in a care home after having several serious strokes and has no memory. Thank you Cheers. I always thought of the area just as you opened the double doors as the viewing platform. The club was opened on 6th February 1963 by the Levey brothers from Wallsend. I would like to add, we played with Johnny Dankworth at Club Eleven, on the same bill was Danny Williams (Moon River) Great guys and what a night. I have tried unsuccessfully to find photos but no one took photos way back then and so all of those precious moments and memories were never captured. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. #11 of 20 Nightlife in South Shields. Dusk was known for its huge New Year's Eve events, staying open till 7am. Does anyone remember Joe and Pat McBeth,fab dancers, Does anyone know of any Italian restaurant where someone called Frank Calzini or Franco Calzini worked in 1967 it was in Pink Lane. The Majestic Ballroom is probably most famous for hosting the Beatles very first appearance in the city on 28th January 1963. The Marimba opened in 1959 serving Italian food and snacks during the day at prices students could afford. 9 Jun 2022 . Is it true? Cheers. I went to a few with Billys Mills bonzo.. remember Trevor Chance practising above a pub in Clayton Street,.. My dad used to service the fruit machines in lots of these clubs for my uncle in the 60s. Im mainly interested in the lead singer of the time called John Little (or possibly also used the name Osbourne). of Newcastle in the 60s. That building and those surrounding it were demolished and have been rebuilt. I also spent many a Monday night at your home testing scotch with your folks and a feisty small terrier before you moved from Whitley Bay. Finally, in relation to the Seaburn Hall in Sunderland we also used to go there does anyone remember Ronnie Stephens and Ray Huntley great dancers. After he left the Gamblers he went to work for Ray Grehan. Our selection of photographs recall an era of social club beauty contests, colliery wagons,. could.nt aford a leather jacket I was an early mod, not wantin any botha, then bought me 1st real bike from kens on westgate road. I am now almost 80 and still follow the era and the music. The Cavendish Club at the bottom of Grey Street opened as a nightclub in the early sixties and became part of the Bailey Group. 2. I later joined the Gamblers backing Billy Fury. Hi Fred A TOUCH OF VELVET, A STING OF BRASS your intro tune? i was a regular and married Vicky Hope a gorgeous bunny girl sadly she died 5yrs ago. old nightclubs in south shields. My name is Bryan Jeffrey ex singer with The Playmates, The Mafia And The Surf Board, a lot of our time spent in Germany and Switzerland. I am researching his club appearances in the UK any help would be ace. Other venues I remember were the RAFA club and The Bombers in Gateshead. I was a DJ at sloopys,(along with Dave), Bloomers, The Oxford plus many more including a club in Whitley Bay on the Esplanade. Also loved the Gogo. Loved the stories behind the venues and the old photos. Closed to become Ocean & Collins and has since rebranded as Bliss and is now Voodoo. I worked at La Strada with your Dad in the early 70s. The Downbeat was another of Mike Jefferys clubs. Things started to go wrong the following year when Bob Monkhouse found out that Ronnie Markham (who later rebranded himself as the hypnotist Romark) had been helping himself to the club takings and cooking the books. A former South Shields nightclub is set to return to the town for one night only - and even has the support of Little Mix star Jade Thirwall. I can still remember the feeling of excitement as you stepped down each dark stair til you opened the door and the whole place came alive, with music, gorgeous people and the amazing music which never sounded the same anywhere else and still doesnt! In 1967 I spent a short time singing with the Don Smith orchestra of the Oxford Galleries after we finished we always used the Cavendish club or Billy Bottos in Byker. old nightclubs in south shields - kvkraigad.org You may remember us as Jean and John the tall couple who danced a lot! There were around a dozen night clubs with top acts appearing in the city every day of the week. One night there was a huge fight which involved about 30 people and resulted in the wall between the casino and the disco being knocked down. The late Joes favourite tale which I have heard dozens of times was the night they were working the GoGo and a very young band were guests, in Joes words bloody useless. I worked at the Crescendo Club in Whitley Bay in 1968-9 and Ray Grehan owned it then . Brought back a loot of memories. Then when I went to work at the Ministry in Longbenton the next day people were coming up to me saying they saw me onstage with Wilson Pickett. Does anyone remember my dad Mike Mccormick who worked for teddy berg at greys, Having read through these posts I dont think anyone has mentioned the fantastic group called the Gas Board they played at the Quay Club also the Majestic, Theres a bit about the Gas Board on this page, Liz: http://readysteadygone.co.uk/bryan-ferry/. Good bands played there. any help would be great as they are my great uncles. I spent so many happy weekends there in the 70s and remember being devastated when it closed down and we all had to transfer to the dolce. Wow, thank you SO much to Rob Quinn for your lovely comments about working with my Dad,Ken Maddison. My favourite thing to do was go immediately to the clubs ( can you believe I used to think going to the pubs a waste of good dancing time!) Does anyone remember the Kontors band; Alan price, Chas Chandler, Bernie Maguian, Gordon Cleghorn, Nick Brandon, Chunky Bourne, Barry Preston? The Beatles played for 5 bob. A weird coincidence is that the bearded chap in the middle is a friend of my wife, hes called Jason Robson, he used to work on the boxing show at the Hoppings, I wonder if he also worked at the Go Go? On the left, the dark haired lady is Barbara Young, and on the right is her sister Joan Young. The Crusaders played La Stradas as resident band three times a week for over six years, but also played the big hotels, the Locarno in Sunderland, the Mayfair in Newcastle. Nine lost North East nightclubs of the 1970s, 80s & 90s Where is she now I wonder. Eileen said: As we get older, we look back with nostalgia at the things we remember from our youth, places we visited, had once passed or had been told about. Whow I thought I was the bees knees. I gave my mate his and told him see that guy look at the back of his jacket just as he turned round and it was `Chris Farlow. He now lives in High Heaton I believe. Spent my late teens / early twenties in Newcastle 66 77 Worked in theatre but then at Change Is from 69 onwards till it turned into Bloomers, but have fond memories of all the venues listed here as well as Change Is.